Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek

Arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport and transfer to your hotel. Meet your trekking guide for briefing and permit arrangements.

Accommodation in a three/four star hotel.

Gear check, documentation, and final trek preparation with optional city-sightseeing. Please remember to include a copy of your trip insurance policy, three passport-sized pictures, and your passport.

Flight to eastern Nepal followed by a scenic drive through tea gardens and hills to Illam.

Duration : 30 minutes flight / 06 hours drive | Distance : 297 kilometers (185 miles) / 180km drive

Drive to Taplejung, the starting point of the trek. Driving along the Mechi Highway from Kanyam to Taplejung, you may witness tranquil scenery of the tea and cardamom plantations alongside the picturesque journey. Mt. Kanchenjunga and Mt. Jannu playing hide-and-seek with the slopes and high passes, you will arrive Taplejung after passing across pastureland and few hamlets.

Duration : 5.5 - 6 hrs | Distance : 151 - 163 km

Begin trekking through cardamom farms and Limbu villages along the Tamor River. After the breakfast, you will travel with a nearby jeep out for Sekathum. Along the Tamor river, you will pass through the villages of Mitlung, Chirwa, Thapethok, Lelep, and a number of other places. Your permits will be reviewed and you will be given the permission to continue to Sekathum at the Kanchenjunga National Park entry point, which is located along the road.

Duration : 5 - 6 hrs. | Distance : 39 km/ 24 miles

Steep ascent through the Ghunsa Khola, bamboo and rhododendron forests, including crossing several bridges, strolling through lush woods, and discovering the little communities of Jonggim and Ghaiyabari before arriving at Amjilosa.

Duration : 5 - 6 hrs | Ascent : 750 m Descent : 100 m | Distance : 10 km

Enter alpine terrain with Tibetan-influenced settlements. Gyabla, also known as Kyapra is today´s destination. You will keep traveling in your direction through a wooded area and a track devoid of any human habitation. If you are lucky, you might be able to see Red Pandas. After the ascent, you will be rewarded with stunning mountain views and a number of waterfalls along the way.

Duration : 5–6 h | Ascent : ~550 m | Descent : ~150 m | Distance : ~10–12 km

Trek through pine forests to Ghunsa, a major Sherpa village. Along the way to the Phale settlement, you will advance through the forests that are home to diverse variety of flora and wildlife.

Duration : 5–6 h | Ascent : ~850 m | Descent : ~100 m | Distance : ~11–12 km

Acclimatization hike to nearby ridges and monasteries. You must give your body time to adjust to the higher elevations in order to prevent altitude sickness. You can of ascend the glacier by foot at Ghunsa Ree or Selele La Pass's Chherpuk Kharka. Along the route to Lobsang La Pass, you can climb up to a vantage point that is above the monastery. Amazing views of Phale, Ghunsa, Selele La, Ghunsa Peak, and a number of other unidentified peaks can be seen from the summit of Lobsang La Pass.

Duration : 2–4 h | Ascent : ~200–300 m | Descent : ~200–300 m | Distance : ~3–5 km

Trail follows glacial valleys with dramatic mountain views. Marching eastern side of the Ghunsa River, the trail gradually climbs up the meadows filled with wildflowers and lovely pine and rhododendron. Continue further to Rampuk Kharka, a grassy area with only teahouse, the trail continues up and then flattens out after passing the waterfall and a bridge, however you must also cross an active landslide region with extreme caution. Then, you can see Mt. Jannu (Kumbhakarna). You will go downhill to Khambachen, a tranquil Tibetan town resting in a grassy plain with magnificent mountain backgrounds.

Duration : 5–6 h | Ascent : ~600 m | Descent : ~150 m | Distance : ~11 km

Trek through remote alpine landscapes beneath Kanchenjunga massif. Head on massive steep rocks and perilous trail on a mountainside and then you cross a waterfall to reach Ramtang, where there is a camp for temporary yak herders. From here are visible Yalung Kang and the Kangbachen Himal along the route. After crossing a bridge, you will reach Ramtang monastery , and then you will have to cross a landslide region where you must be extremely cautious of the falling rocks. Descend down to the river and continue walking until Lhonak.

Duration : 5–6 h | Ascent : ~700 m | Descent : ~100 m | Distance : ~10 km

The absolute highlight and one of the most physically demanding segments of the entire Kanchenjunga Circuit. You will start early in the morning from Lhonak, push up to the North Base Camp, and return to Lhonak before nightfall. You will be able to admire mesmerising views of Mt. Kanchenjunga, Mt. Pathivara, Mt. Yalung Kang, Nepal Peak, Twin Peak, Tent Peak, and other peaks. After 3 hours of hike, you may reach Jorkin at 5021 meters, while enjoying views of different animals, including blue sheep, and various bird species.

After arriving Pangpema, you may witness gigantic views of the Kanchenjunga, Chang Himal, Jannu Himal, Nepal Peak, and numerous other Tibet Himalayan ranges. A modest stone cabin, a small tea store is there during the busy trekking season to offer you a cup of warm tea. You will spend a while in the Base Camp and then return to Lonak for the overnight.

Duration : 7–8 h | Ascent : ~360 m | Descent : ~360 m | Distance : ~14–16 km

Descend back through familiar trails to Ghunsa. Following the Ghunsa River, you will go back the entire way via Khambachen and down to Ghunsa. You will cross the monastery and the herder's camp at Ramtang enjoying the wide-open massive views of the Himalayan ranges. You will eventually reach the Tibetan-influenced settlement of Ghunsa, where you may spend the night.

Duration : 6–7 h | Ascent : ~100 m | Descent : ~1,190 m | Distance : ~21 km

Climb toward high passes connecting north and south base camps. The trail to Gyabla will be left behind as you reach Sele La. As you stroll deeper into forest, you may possibly spot snow leopards. There are sparsely populated, remote human communities that only have teahouses open during the peak season. There is no alternative way to connect the route to South Base Camp during periods of high snowfall until Sekathum. If the teahouses are not available but you can still cross the passes, you might even be able to go to Tseram in a single day, reducing one day from your original plan.

Duration : 5–6 h | Ascent : ~700 m | Descent : ~50 m | Distance : ~6–9 km

Today, you have a long difficult day because you will have to overcome three passes on the path above roughly 4,450–4,800 m, before you reach Cheram. After breakfast, you will leave Sele La and hike uphill observing the stunning southern views of Mt. Jannu and Mt. Makalu. You will walk through the mountainside and take a brief hard climb to the Mirgin La Pass, follow the ascent to the first pass, Sinion La.

The route descends before turning about and ascends steeply one last time to the summit of Sinelapche La Pass. You will go through a region with yak kharka and roof huts then descend a steep route after a tiny lake. The Cheram village is a lovely little community, situated above the Simbua River.

Duration : 7–9 h | Ascent : ~500–700 m | Descent : ~900–1,000 m | Distance : ~9–12 km

Trek toward the southern side of Kanchenjunga. After one and a half hours of moderate ascent, you will reach Yalung Glacier, also known as Kanchenjunga South Glacier. The route leads you through grassy meadows till you reach Ramche village, passing through Simbua River and Lapsang Village. A lake, a meadow, two stone houses, and yaks and blue sheep occasionally grazing on the grassy hills, you may collect some memories of the trip. The views of Mts. Kokthan, Rathong, and Kabru are prominent along your way.

Duration : 5–6 h | Ascent : ~700 m | Descent : ~50 m | Distance : ~10–12 km

Visit Kanchenjunga South Base Camp with views of Yalung Glacier. The Kanchenjunga Circuit trek will pass by the stunning Oktang Base Camp. You will go through a number of lateral moraines as you continue the Yalung Glacier. You will reach Oktang Base Camp after completing a strenuous uphill trail. You may explore the base camp area there and get amazing photos. You will go back to your teahouse in Ramche after visiting the area for the overnight.

Duration : 6–8 h | Ascent : ~250 m | Descent : ~250 m | Distance : ~12–14 km

Descend through alpine forests and valleys. The trail takes a steady descent through shady juniper and rhododendron trees while enjoying the stunning views of Jannu Himal. You must walk here carefully through the rocky routes and loose dirts. You will traverse a number of Mani walls and vibrant prayer flags flying in the woods. You will reach Tortong finally after walking down the Simbua River across the woodlands.

Duration : 6–7 h | Ascent : ~100 m | Descent : ~1,550 m | Distance : ~12–16 km

You head today from Tortang toward Sekathum. Semethulung Danda and Chanjalung Danda will acompany you following the Simbuwa Khola during your hike. Arriving at Hellok, continue your journey crossing multiple suspension bridges. You descend toward Sekathum to overnight.

Duration : 7 - 9 hrs | Ascent : ~300 to 400 m | Descent : ~1,300 m | Distance : ~18 - 20 km (12.4 miles)

You can take a jeep from Sekathum to Taplejung or Illam, depending on the distance or other factors. Taplejung is approx. 39 to 45 km and 4 to 6 hours drive. You will pass through a number of towns including Lelep, Temewa, Chiruwa, Sinwa, Mitlung, and Taplejung. Where you can stop for the night or continue traveling toward Illam after staying there sometimes.

Duration : 7 - 8 hrs drive | Distance : 160 km

The Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek ends today. You will drive from Illam to Bhadrapur and then fly from Bhadrapur to Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. You will have ample time in Kathmandu to see the Ason, Thamel and other unexplored places. You would love to recall back all your memories of this incredible journey during the farewell dinner in the evening with us one more time.

Duration : 1.5 to 1.45 hrs drive | Distance : 60 - 63 km

Flight duration : 35 - 45 min. | Aerial distance : 297 km (185 miles)

Road distance : 452 kilometers (281 miles)

Transfer to airport for onward journey.